Method and apparatus for simultaneously moving a marking tape and other tape



July v15, 1969 R. A. MARTIN y3,455,431

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY MOVING A MARKING TAPE AND OTHERTAPE Original Filed Jan. 8, 1965 mvzsmonv R YA. MAR. TIN

Afro/ave United States Patent O 3,455,431 METHOD AND APPARATUS FORSIMULTANE- OUSLY MOVING A MARKING TAPE AND OTHER TAPE Roy A. Martin,Atlanta, Ga., assignor to Trustees, Employees Savings and Profit SharingTrust Fund of The Citizens and Southern National Bank, Atlanta, Ga.

Continuation of application Ser. No. 424,303, Jan. 8, 1965. Thisapplication Mar. 7, 1968, Ser. No. 718,294 Int. Cl. B41j15/20, 1.7/58,15/00 U.S. Cl. 197-134 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method andapparatus for simultaneously moving a marking tape Iand another tapewhich is to be marked and on, for example, a business machine that has a-magnetic ink marking tape moving simultaneously with a continuous rollof paper tape which is the tape to be marked on which magneticcharacters are printed from time to time for bookkeeping purposes. Themachine supports a continuous roll of inked ribbon, magnetic ink paperor other continuous marking tape so that the roll drops by gravity as itis depleted and the continuous marking tape rests on a second roll ofcontinuous paper tape which must stay supported on the machine. The tworolls are in contact and the rotation of the two rolls against eachother induces a. frictional drag which tensions both the ribboncontinuous marking tape and the second paper tape as it is fed. Thesecond paper tape roll is fed directly to the machine and theinked-ribbon or marking roll tape is fed down the back and co-extensiveWith the length on the back side of the second paper tape and thenceboth are fed beneath and out of the front of the platen or other machineelement. The marking portion of the marking tape is superposed againstthe second paper tape at a particular time during which impressions maybe made from the marking tape to the paper tape and beyond this pointthe second tape which has been marked is separated from the marking tapewhich is turned and led to .a power driven take-up spool on one side ofthe machine.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is a continuationapplication of my abandoned application Ser. No. 424,303, filed Ian. 8,1965, for Method and Apparatus for Simultaneously Moving a Printing Tapeand Other Tape.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION In ordinary business machines the marking orprinting tape, such as the inked ribbon, is moved transversely to theline of movement by the paper. Even in typewriters which use disposablecarbon and plastic ribbons, the ribbon normally moves across the paper.In certain instances it is not desirable to move the continuous markingor printing tape across the paper or blank tape Iand the presentinvention makes it possible to move the printing tape co-extensive withpart of the length of the paper tape and to feed the printing tape andthe paper tape simultaneous and co-extensive in length for a distanceand to collect the printing tape separately at a storage point.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a simple, expedient andinexpensive way of moving a printing tape, such as a magnetic ink tapeco-extensive with and superposed on a portion of paper tape for thepurpose of printing, separation and storage.

Frice Another object of this invention is to support a printing tape,such as a magnetic ink tape, resting on top of the paper roll and freelymounted for movement thereagainst so tha-t compensation is automaticallymade as the rolls deplete themselves and also so that there is afriction drag between the rolls which tensions both the printing tape orribbon and the paper tape.

Still another object of this invention is to utilize the inexpensivemethod of feed which efliciently moves both the paper tape and theprinting ribbon or tape without the need for additional motors or extracontrol mechanism A further feature of the present invention is found inthe separation of the ribbon or magnetic printing tape and the papertape, Ia-fter the normal printing operation position, so that othermaterial may be inserted between the two for printing.

Another advantage of the present invention resides in the availabilityof the platen rotary motion to take up the used printing ribbon therebyeliminating separate mechanism.

Another advantage of the present invention resides in the automaticcompensation for changes in diameter of both of the roll of printingribbon and the blank tape along with the frictional tensioning of theribbon and tape by contact with each other.

In summation: In a method for simultaneously feeding la marking tape,which has a marking surface on one side and a non-marking surface on theback side, such as a printing tape or ribbon on a machine, such as abusiness machine like a bank tabulating machine, and bringing saidmachine tape into contact over and with the marking surface superposedon another, and second tape which is to be marked by the marking surfaceof the marking tape as by contact and pressure of a printing charactermeans on the machine, the steps of: feeding the marking tape and theother, second tape with each tape fed initially in an arcuate directionand with the non-marking surface of the marking tape touching thesurface of the other, second tape during the time each is moving at anarcuately disposed direction, said tapes separating thereafter, and thenbringing the tapes together again with the lengths thereof incoextensive relation with the marking surface of the marking tape facingthe said other, second tape, and with the marking tape superposed alongthe length of the second tape, and thereafter transporting andaccumulating the marking tape separately from the second tape.

Other and further objects a-nd advantages of my invention will becomeapparent upon reading the following specification taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. l is a perspective'view of the present invention mounted inassociation with conventional business machine parts such as a motordriven platen.

FIG. 2 is a detail of a modified slip-clutch arrangement which 4may besubstituted for the belt drive in FIG. 1.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, the entire machine is an assemblydesignated by the general reference numeral 10 and the machine comprisesa paper guide 12 which is more or less standard equipment together withthe conventional rubber coated or covered platen roller 14 which has ashaft 16 and the usual paper guide 18 together with a paper bar 20 and apaper severing edge 22, all of which are standard equipment on manybusiness machines. Visibly mounted on the machine frame is a pair ofopposed supports 26 of substantially identical construction each havingan elongated, normally ver tically disposed notch 28 therein in whichrests the opposite ends 30 of a ribbon or roll tape support shaft 32which normally supports a marking tape roll 35 of marking tape 36 whichmay be magnetic inked-tape or ribbon,

coated ribbon or coated tape to be used for a marking operation on themachine which normally involves marking a character or severalcharacters on a spot on the marking tape 36 and then moving the markingtape 36 successive increment and the printing of another character orcharacters at this point Without, usually, the normal redistribution ofink and rather using a different spot on the tape 36 each time.

Also mounted on the supports 26 on a shaft 38 is a second blank taperoll 39 of blank tape 40, which can be a roll of paper similar to thatfound on most adding machines. Shaft 38 supports blank tape roll 39 forrotation in the direction of the arrows in FIG. 1 thereon but normallydoes not move in any other direction. The marking roll rests on top ofthe surface of the roll 39 of second blank tape 40 and as the tapes 36,40 are moved through the machine the contact of roll 39 with marking orprinting roll 35, which rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1,induces a frictional drag between fthe two. The tape 36 from its roll 35is directed behind the tape 40 from its roll 39 and is superposedthereagainst yfor a length shown in the dotted lines in FIG. l until thetwo tapes 36, 40 are led from the paper guide 20 whereat the plain papertape 40 is led through the severing guide 22 and the marking or printingtape 36 is directed across a guide member 44 to give a partial turn andchange in direction, thence across the frame to a second guide roller 46and thence to a tape collection roller 48 mounted on a shaft 50supported on the machine 10. Shaft 50 has on the other end thereof adrive roller 52 which is driven by a small belt 54 from a drive spool 56mounted on the end of shaft 16 on platen 14 so that as the platen 14turns, the drive roll 56 turns and drives shaft 50 through belt 54 androller 52 to take up the used tape 36 on tape collection spool 48.

It should be noticed that the frictional engagement between the roll 35and the roll 39 together with the automatic compensation for the size ofthe roll 36 by shaft 32 by virtue of the shaft 32 dropping in slots ornotches 28 as the roll 35 is depleted, provides a suiicient frietionaldrag and automatic compensation which replaces more involved or moreexpensive arrangements. Also, the collection arrangement for taking upthe used printing tape 36 on the collection roll 48 is a simple andinexpensive way which avoids more expensive and complex arrangements.

FIGURE 2 shows a modication of the drive arrangement of the take upspool 48 for the used printing tape 36. In the place of belt drive 54,shaft 16 is provided with a conventional friction clutch 60 whichconsists of a pair of opposed friction drive members 62, 64 normally inface to face engagement according to a pares'et pressure between thembut slipping when the frictional force caused by the preset pressurebetween the engagling surfaces of drive members 62 and 64 is overcome.These pieces 62, 64 may be made from rubber, plastic or other suitablematerial. Member 64 is attached to the output shaft 66 which has abeveled gear 68 thereon matching with a beveled gear 70 on drive shaft72 having another beveled gear '74 on the bottom end thereof drivingstill another beveled gear 76 mounted on the end of shaft 50. Thus,shaft 50 is driven through the beveled gears 68, 70 and 74, 76 to causethe tape collection roll 48 to take up the used printing tape 36 in thesame manner as discussed in the embodiment of FIG. 1.

What is claimed isz 1. In a method for simultaneously feeding a markingtape which has a marking surface such as a printing tape or ribbon on amachine such as a business machine like a bank tabulating machine, andbringing said marking tape into Contact over and with the markingsurface superposed on another, second tape which is to be marked by themarking surface of the marking tape as by contact and pressure of aprinting character means on the machine, the steps of: feeding themarking tape and the other, second tape with each tape fed initially inan arcuate direction and with the nonmarking-surface of the marking tapetouching the surface of the other, second tape during the time each ismoving at an arcuately disposed direction, said tapes separatingthereafter, and then bringing the tapes together again with the lengthsthereof in coextensive relation with the marking surface of the markingtape facing the said other, second tape, and with the marking tapesuperposed along the length of said other, second tape.

2. The method defined in claim 1, wherein: there is a roll of markingtape on said machine and said marking :tape is initially supplied andfed by continually unwinding same from said roll of marking tape andthere is also a roll of other, second tape on said machine and theother, second tape is fed by continuously unwinding same from said rollof other, second tape, and one of said marking tape and other, secondtape rolls is in engagement touching the other of said marking tape andother, second rolls providing a friction drag therebetween.

3. The method claimed in claim 2, wherein: said one of said rolls ofmarking and other, second tape rests on the other and becomes smaller indiameter as it depletes and said one of said rolls moves downwardly bygravity as it unwinds, said tape from the roll of tape that moves bygravity being brought around the underside of said other roll upon whichsaid roll of tape that moves by gravity is resting.

4. The method claimed in claim 3, wherein: said machine has a movableplaten thereon, and including the step of directing the superposedlengths of marking tape and other, second tape around the platen, andthen separating said marking tape from said other, second tape near thetop of the platen so that a piece of paper may be inserted therebetween.

5. In an apparatus for transporting a marking tape for use with a blanktape,

(a) a support having a tape roll support means there- (b) a blank taperoll of blank tape normally supported on said support means `forrotation thereon,

(c) a marking tape roll of marking tape supported above sa-id blank taperoll and touching same, said marking tape having a marking and anon-marking surface on opposite sides thereof, and said nonmarkingsurface touching said blank tape roll as the two rolls unwinds and saidblank tape roll and said marking tape roll rotating in contact with eachother at the location of touching therebetween causing a friction drag,

.(d) and means for maintaining said marking tape and said blank tape incontact with each other to maintain the friction drag therebetween.

6. The device claimed in claim 5, wherein: said means for maintainingcomprises separate slots on said support means, said marking tape rollof marking tape being mounted for movement in respective slots on thesupport means at each end thereof in contact with said blank tape, andthe depletion of said marking tape roll of marking tape causes same tomove downwardly in said slots still remaining in engagement with saidblank tape roll.

7. The device claimed in claim 5 wherein there is a means for directingsaid marking tape and said blank tape simultaneously and superposed fora portion of the length thereof and means for taking up said markingtape after it is used on the apparatus.

8. The device claimed in claim 7 wherein: said means rfor taking up saidmarking tape includes a take-up spool mounted on said machine, and drivemeans for said spool driven by said apparatus.

9. The device claimed in claim 8, Wherein: said ap' 754,435 3/ 1904Dufur. paratus has a platen thereon around which both sa-id 1,169,3181/1916` Cooper. blank tape and said marking tape are driven, said drive1,254,368 1/ 1918 Sherman et al. means for said take-up spool for saidmarking tape com- 1,298,752 4/ 1919 Manning. prising a first drivemember connected to said platen, 5 2,000,100 5/ 1935 Sherman. a shaftfor said take-up spool for said marking .tape roll, 2,080,986 5/1137Pierce. and a belt drive means between said rst drive member 2,391,76012/ 1945 Willard. and said shaft. 2,788,879 4/ 1957 Rand.

10. The device claimed in claim 8, wherein: said 2,790,638 4/1957Wockenfuss. drive means for said spool includes a friction clutch 102,869,705 1/ 1959 Gates. which slips when the preset amount offrictional Iforce 3,205,997 9/1965 Przybylowicz. -is overcome.

References Cited ERNEST T. WRIGHT, JR., Primary Examiner' UNITED STATESPATENTS 15 Us. CL XR' 489,920 1/1893 Bieg et al. 197-126, 133

734,660 7/ 1903 Bellamy.

